1 Samuel 23:16
\u201cThen Jonathan, Saul\u2019s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We continue to make spiritual declarations for the new year. One of the realities of life we cannot shake off is the presence of challenges that will seek to weaken our souls. There may even be times when we feel desperate or abandoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t need more pulpit preaching or Bible quotes at such times because we already know what the Bible says. What we need is divine strengthening through a human vessel. We need a human touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And because God knows this, He sends angels as human beings. They come with uplifting words that bring healing, renewal, and reinvigorating. If they were not from God, their words would mean nothing, but if sent from above, they would make a world of difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
David was stuck in the wilderness, and Saul was seeking ways to kill him. But Jonathan \u201carose and went to David.\u201d Why did he do this? It must have been God who sent him to David because David desperately needed encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the Bible says that Jonathan \u201cstrengthened his hand in God.\u201d NLT says that Jonathan \u201chelped him find strength in God.\u201d Jonathan did not just visit with David, even though that would have had value. But he went with a purpose, as one sent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two types of strengthening. There is strength in and from God, and there\u2019s strength outside God. Only strength in and from God has lasting and transformative value, and that\u2019s what we need. We need people to strengthen us in God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This coming year, God will send you people who will help lift your hands when they are down and your soul when you are weary. God will send you people who will come to you with purpose and vision. You will find strength in God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this new year, you will also be Jonathan to some folks. God will send you to people who need a touch of heaven, and you will be that touch. Our world is full of needy people. Don\u2019t just be a receiver. Give divine encouragement next year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
1 Samuel 23:16\u201cThen Jonathan, Saul\u2019s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.\u201d We continue to make spiritual declarations for the new year. One of the realities of life we cannot shake off is the presence of challenges that will seek to weaken our souls. There may even […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7373,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-reflections-from-1st-samuel"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t